Brewers band together in the name of beer.
Craft brewers in Nevada have long been held back by an industry criticized for favoring distributers and big-name brands, according to many brewery owners in the state. Strict laws limit distribution activity, production, and more for those trying to make a buck on hop-based beverages. In an effort to quell some of the seemingly unfair rules that affect them, craft brewers have joined together, forming associations that represent their wants and needs with a united voice.
Two such entities dominate work in Northern Nevada and Northern California: the Nevada Craft Brewers Association and TRT (Truckee-Reno-Tahoe) Brewers Guild.
“[NCBA] has a long way to grow,” says Matt Johnson, owner of IMBIB Custom Brews in Reno and Sparks and former president and current member of NCBA, which launched in 2012.
Some of the difficulties the craft brewery industry faces are a lack of resources and (perhaps unfairly) being overshadowed by macro-breweries and wholesalers, which Johnson says, “have the most influence over legislation and policy in the state.”
The biggest benefit of membership, according to Wyndee Forrest, president of NCBA and co-founder and owner of CraftHaus Brewery in Southern Nevada, is being part of a unified voice representing craft brewers and the Nevada beer industry but also in helping create legislation that improves the industry in Nevada. The benefits, however, don’t stop there. Membership also provides access to educational opportunities such as timely webinars, as well as to a powerful public relations team that is available to support local craft brewers.
“We have one voice, and that voice is moving Nevada beer forward,” Forrest says.
The NCBA also is working toward offering members training opportunities, group insurance, and collective purchasing power.
According to Johnson, “The only way for us to get stronger is for all independent craft breweries in the state to join the team and help the NCBA speak with a united voice.”
For TRT Brewers Guild — of which FiftyFifty Brewing Co. in Truckee, Revision Brewing Co. in Sparks, Alibi Ale Works in Incline Village, and South Lake Brewing Co. in South Lake Tahoe are members — the goals are increasing communication among professional brewers and allied trade members, elevating the local brewing industry by bolstering relationships, and creating a better beer scene in Truckee, Reno, and Tahoe as a result.
However, more memberships and more money are key to being able to achieve these.
“We raised $7,000 for the NCBA this year at the inaugural Legends of Beer Festival,” Johnson says, referring to the event that took place at Outlets at Legends in Sparks in early September. “This is a positive step forward, and large events like this are ultimately what will sustain the organization and help it grow.”
This means that the general public can support craft breweries best by buying tickets for sponsored events and, of course, drinking plenty of local brews!
For details, visit Nvbeer.com or Trtbrewers.com.
Nora Heston Tarte is a longtime Reno resident. You can follow her local exploits and travel adventures on Instagram @wanderlust_n_wine.
